Guildhall abseil challenge to fund cancer research project

Fundraisers with a head for heights are being encouraged to take on a charity abseil challenge at Cambridge's historic Guildhall to raise money for the 100k Rapid Scan Challenge.

The Cambridge Independent launched a campaign with Cancer Research UK (CRUK) in October last year to raise £100,000 to help fund ground-breaking cancer research clinical trials at Addenbrooke’s.

Now, CRUK is encouraging anyone with a head for heights to sign up to scale the building alongside colleagues, friends, or family members to raise money for the campaign.

Heidi Connell, CRUK senior fundraising manager, said: “This is a rare opportunity to abseil down the historic Guildhall, so if you’re feeling brave and want to support ground-breaking research that’s happening here in the city, please sign up now.

“You can abseil alongside a friend or colleague if you’re feeling a bit nervous and there’ll be lots of people there to cheer you on.

“We’re really grateful to the Guildhall for giving us the chance to put on this event.

“Please help us to make it a success.”

She added: “By taking part in the abseil and supporting the 100k challenge, supporters will be helping doctors, nurses and scientists to accelerate life-saving research.”

On Saturday March 17 and Sunday March 18, the Guildhall – a listed building designed in 1939 by Charles Cowles-Voysey – will be transformed to allow members of the public to abseil down it to raise money for charity.

The money raised will be used to fund a research project which aims to cut the amount of time needed to determine if drugs are working for cancer patients.

The revolutionary imaging technique enables medics to see if a drug is working within a day or two of starting treatment instead of waiting to see if a tumour shrinks.

Currently, doctors determine whether a treatment is working for patients by examining whether a tumour is shrinking or not using CT (computerised tomography) scans or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging).

The entry fee for the abseil is £35 and people are asked to raise a minimum of £250 in sponsorship. Enter at cruk.org/CambridgeAbseil.